Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has recently drawn attention to architectural styles, specifically advocating for Art Deco buildings as a political talking point. Pratt shared a social media thread discussing the appeal of Art Deco, contrasting it with what he described as "commie brutalist slop" and "prison-like structures."
In his posts, Pratt used the 1930 Eastern Columbia building, a well-known Art Deco landmark in Los Angeles, as an example of desirable architecture. He juxtaposed it with a contemporary building by Eric Owen Moss Architects, calling the latter an example of "crimes against beauty." While some architecture critics have echoed Pratt's criticism of certain modern buildings, his suggestions of legal action against architects are unlikely to be adopted by city officials.
Pratt's focus on Art Deco first gained prominence in interviews earlier this year, where he expressed a desire to "bring Art Deco back" to Los Angeles, rejecting "high-density" constructions. His remarks often linked this aesthetic preference to housing legislation, such as SB 79, which permits denser apartment construction near transit lines. This bill has faced opposition from some residents concerned about potential changes to their neighborhoods.
Architecture and Political Nostalgia
Pratt's campaign, which some characterized as having an unspoken slogan of "Make Los Angeles Great Again," frequently invoked a nostalgic vision of the city. Art Deco, with its prominence in shaping many of Los Angeles's civic landmarks like City Hall, Union Station, and the Central Library, serves as a stylistic avatar for this sentiment. Art Deco, along with its variants like Streamline Moderne, rose in popularity a century ago, occupying a space between the revivalist styles and the austerity of early modernism.
However, the style also carries a more complex historical association. Art Deco gained significant traction as the Great Depression took hold, and efforts to revive it in the late 1960s and early 1970s occurred during a period of societal uncertainty. This connection to times of strife and division, according to some analyses, may resonate with the current rhetoric of reclaiming a past glory, casting itself as a potential savior from contemporary anxieties.
Los Angeles's architectural landscape is notably eclectic, featuring diverse styles beyond Art Deco. Examples include early modernism at the Schindler House, mid-century modernism at the Eames House and Studio, and Pritzker Prize-winning designs on Grand Avenue, such as Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall and Rafael Moneo's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Despite this variety, Pratt's emphasis on Art Deco highlights its symbolic role in discussions about the city's identity and future development.